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A Warm Wintery Wish :-)

(2,-3), (1,-3), (1,-2) and (3,-2)
For the mathematically inclined among you,let me clarify-- these are NOT the values of co-ordinates in a Math problem. These are temperatures prevailing today and the temperatures forecast for the next three days in the place where I live, in the UK. It's funny how stark contrasts hit you in a big way and make you appeciate Nature and Life.

We just got back from an amazing vacation in India .(And yes I met all the wonderful people I mention in my last post. It was truly marvellous.) In the evening, I was in Chennai where the temperature was 26 degrees and in the morning when I landed at Heathrow it was zero degrees. :-) I was excited.

As a child, growing up in the early eighties in a small Indian town, 'snow' meant a white facial cream that came in little white jar with a light pink lid, manufactured by Ponds. My mom used it every single day as a part of her beauty routine. By late eighties as "Colour TV" ('Humare ghar mein colour TV hai' was the ultimate status symbol statement in those times) penetrated Indian homes--among which was my own home--I discovered that snow could also mean tonnes of white icy stuff that fell from the skies and covered everything in sight. I saw people wearing coats and boots in movies. I saw pictures of Snow men,Skiing and snow-sledges. Winters like these was what I saw in picture books.

It is only now, after nearly quarter of a century that I have understood his excitement and why he yelled that way. Because this morning when I opened my door and saw miles and miles and miles of snow covered roads, it was exactly what I felt like doing. I refrained though, as I don't think my English neighbours in UK would have related to Shammi Kapoor or my palpable excitement in seeing so much snow for the first time in my life. Besides, the English are a peace loving sort and thrive on quietness unlike Indians whose DNA is encrypted with a loudness gene. (and I don't mean it badly. I love everything about India and am indeed proud of my country ) :-)

I touched it, walked in it, made snowballs (the picture below shows my first snow ball), and even went on a snow sled. It was thrilling, fun and inhaling the cold air feels even better than a shot of espresso drunk neat.

The television news is full of reports of how more snow is expected and how many of the Arterial roads are closed. Many Airports too are closed. The children's schools were closed too and they made the most of it having snow ball fights and making snow angels.

The weather is truly freezing with sub zero temperatures. Some people hate winter. They complain about short days (it gets dark at 4.00) and blocked roads and slippery Black Ice (which can be very dangerous).

But me--I am smiling so much! I am dressed up like the characters I saw in movies as a little child, wearing a coat, gloves, hat, scarf and boots. I am enjoying walking in the snow, and seeing the sparkling white brightness for miles around. It feels like magic. It feels like my mom's jar of snow got magnified a thousand fold times and then tipped over covering all the landscape for miles around! (I'd have truly believed it had I seen this as a child :-) )

Now I am going to make a nice cup of tea and watch through my window, the snow flakes outside, gently falling down.

Comments

A very happy new year to you..and yes this winter has been quite harsh even in India the temperatures have broken all records..but not anywhere close to UK..albeit we wish it would..but actually no it shouldn't be cold here..loads of deaths due to cold ...people sleeping on the foothpaths :(

I can fully relate to all the excitement. Even, we used to look forward to first snow, even though, we knew it would be in abundance being on the Northeast side of US. Now, we miss it since we are back to old sweeet Pune, Make the most when you have it. Happy Winter!!Keep writing the wonderful stuff.

Lovely post....could relate to every part of it coz I too havent seen snow till today;-DU knw for a long time Switzerland was my favourite place to visit abroad simply because all pics of Switzerland had snow in them;-D

Lucky you - you like the winter and the snow. The UK seems to be having awful weather ever since Christmas. And do you really like the winter ?? I hate it and am delighted that I am not anywhere near it - I am moaning about the cold here even thought its a barmy 8 deg.

Glad to hear you had an amazing trip!The weather over here is -20. Very cold but there is something I love about snow as well - even after seeing it every year for the last 10 years. I just don't like to shovel or drive in it when it turns brown but otherwise I love the fluff.

I remember how excited I was when I first saw snow as well back in 99 when my parents moved here!

its realy wonderful post,the way of expression is really heart touching.even when we brought the first refrigerator in late 90's and i m so excited tht i brought all my frnds to my hme to show the refrigerator.

Ramesh: I guess I expected it to be 'awful' as i had heard so many people narrating so much about it.Even I was pleasantly surprised when i found myself really liking it and it wasnt even one tenth as bad as people made it out to be :) Thanks--compliments to the photographer :) He makes me look good :)

Does that mean ur back?....welcome back...hope ur trip to India was one that you would remember all ur life... well...missed you... really... Happy new Year... you could send some snow here....its hot in here... anyways take some rest and then back on the business.... whats going on with the book??

When I was younger, I visited N. India once. Other than the snow, I don't remember much else of the trip. My brother & I rolled, ran, & frolicked in the snow clad valleys. It is a beautiful memory I have! I can totally relate to your smiling photos.

I love fresh snow on trees. I still remember my first winter 29 yrs ago! Some how though, I like warmer weather more and more (not hot, just warm). Change of seasons is amazing, I just wish winter was not as long because I miss the sun. Love the story on Ponds snow, my mom had it too back then :) Happy new year to you!!

Hey Preeti, nice to hear from you after a long time. I got to know about your India visit only after you had left from India. I am always late in reading your blog. Actually my seven months old son keeps me busy throughout the day. Glad to know that your trip had been very memorable. I really enjoy reading your blog. Wish you a very very happy new year to you and your family. May all your dreams come true this year:)-

Coming to India on a vacation sounds kinda ironical to me Preeti! I am among those kinds who have a been carrying a blank passport for quite some years! And I like to be in India for a reason - a life long vacation :-)

I had attended the Kerala Lit fest at Calicut , had a magnificent event and and had just got back. That evening the house owner dropped a sudden bombshell on us, telling us we had to vacate the place in two months.They said they had decided to sell it. Just like that. The…

A bit of news I have is this FUN and EASY contest that we are running, where two winners will be flown to Mumbai to attend Women Writers Fest
(click on link to know all details) with me ! We will also take care of
the hotel stay for a night. And ALL participants will get an assured surprise in their inbox on 28th Feb! We started it today, and it goes on till 25th feb.
Isn't this Fabulous? I am very excited about it!

What do you have to do to enter?

Simple--Share
a pic with 'Life is What You Make it' and post it on YOUR social media
(blog, facebook, Twitter, Instagram--anything you like and use the
hashtag #LifeWithPreeti so we find it. Also set your account to public! Please make it a post (as stories disappear in 24 hours) We have already started receiving
pictures from as far as Kedarkanth. I am absolutely loving it, and it is
so moving and wonderful to see all the pictures.

I have a lot of news to share with you, though if you have been following me …

So, your favourite character Ankita is back! This book takes off where the first one ended. The first book has an epilogue which tells you what happened fifteen years later. But it doesn't give you any details about you what happened immediately afterwards, and in the time period leading up to those 15 years.Life is what you make it ends with Ankita coming out of the mental hospital, and joining a creative writing course. The new book Wake Up, Life is Calling starts off from there.
This book was a very difficult one to write (It took me 8 years, and I wrote nine more books in the meantime) to go back to narrate Ankita's story. I am really excited about how it has turned out.